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Match preview: Returners from international break spark final push, starting against Cincinnati

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3 weeks ago

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Miguel Almirón and Atlanta United’s other international representatives are back in the A, and not a moment too soon. The 5-Stripes face another firey opponent in FC Cincinnati, and the match presents yet another consequential matchup for playoff qualifications.

The weekend matchup will continue on to its 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff amidst weather conditions in Atlanta.

Almirón and head coach Tata Martino gave their words of encouragement during Thursday media availability as the 5-Stripes begin the first of seven matches to end their season and keep their ambitions alive.

“I think the group is confident, and we also know the situation we’re in,” Almirón said in Spanish Thursday. “We know the responsibility that these upcoming matches carry, and the objective is to win all the matches in order to qualify for the playoffs.”

Work during the break

Tristan Muyumba and Enea Mihaj gave their take on how the break went for the 5-Stripes who stayed in Atlanta during the international window.

“It was more about refining some stuff we’ve been [doing] through the season,” Muyumba said Tuesday, “to create more, to keep the rhythm and to add some habits to our shape and everything.”

Especially during the second half of the season, a turnaround fueled by new signings has seen the 5-Stripes creating chances and stringing together good performances. Chance creation has been a strong suit, and Mihaj said Martino praised the team’s increased understanding of their buildup.

What they’ll need down the stretch is conversion, not just from chances to goals but from goals into wins.

“We insist a lot on some details that we need to improve in the end, not only playing good but getting the three points,” Mihaj said Tuesday. “That is the main target right now because the time and the games are few and we trying to get a spot in the playoffs.”

Part of that equation could be solved by continuing to unlock Breel Embolo. The forward has 1 goal in his first five matches with the 5-Stripes, and the squad are looking to involve him even more.

“One of the points we try to improve is crossing more in the box for him, to find him,” Mihaj said. “It’s not easy to get the ball 1, 2 times in the box and just score. He needs to get more balls and we need to improve on that aspect also.”

[Embedded post from @ATLUTD on X, October 9, 2026]

Cincy a scintillating opponent, even without a key player

Sitting in 10th place in the Eastern Conference, FC Cincinnati are just outside the Wild Card spots for the Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs but tied on points with eighth and ninth place. Atlanta United is six points behind them, instantly making Saturday’s contest a true six-pointer.

The Orange and Blue will be without star designated player Evander, according to their head coach Pat Noonan Thursday.

Martino kept it simple Thursday, saying with Evander, Cincinnati are better and without him, they’re worse.

But one player’s absence won’t change the overall mission of the visitors. FC Cincinnati will look to get out and run, especially with forward Kévin Denkey, who has 19 goal contributions this season. The transition game has been a pain point for Atlanta United this season, and their ability to dictate the tempo Saturday night will be crucial for that reason.

“There is a way Cincinnati plays that tempts the opponent to play a back-and-forth match,” Martino said. “What we have to try to do is play in a way that suits us … not give them the opportunity to put together a match to their liking, which is a blow-for-blow game.”

Almirón’s return to the squad — along with other key starters in Alexey Miranchuk, Júnior Alonso and Paulo Díaz — will be a boost for a 5-Stripes team that finally feels like they have all their pieces in place. The Paraguayan number 10 said he enjoyed his time on international break, where he scored a brace against Bolivia in a friendly.

Returning to his captaincy role, Almirón is tasked with leading an improbable yet still possible charge for the playoffs.

“We have to keep fighting, we have to keep working until the end, that when that arrives, in the end it bears fruit,” Almirón said. “Those who work, those who are humble, in the end you learn and you improve. We know we had a difficult year, but I think the team is improving. I trust my teammates a lot, and as I always say, the club and the Atlanta fans also deserve that we are better.”

Adam Jasper – Managing Editor

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Match recap: Unforced errors cost Atlanta United in loss to Chicago Fire

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3 days ago

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October 24, 2026

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Against the top teams in the conference, a mistake-free match isn’t a nice-to-have but an imperative for success. The 5-Stripes created and converted on the attacking end twice, but a pair of defensive miscues in the second half were costly enough to decide the match. Atlanta United fell 3-2 to Chicago Fire in their penultimate home match of the 2026 season.

What happened

The 5-Stripes jumped out the gate with purpose, pushing forward on the right side with Tomás Jacob overlapping attackers. He was to thank for the earliest goal of Atlanta United’s season, finding room on the right side of the box from a keen through ball from Miguel Almirón. The Paraguayan had picked the ball up from midfield and dribbled all the way to the edge of the box before dishing it across to Jacob, who finished with power past Chris Brady in the 4th minute.

Chicago tried their hand at possession to settle into the match, but Atlanta United were chaotic in defense and eager to win the ball back. That early energy dissipated as the visitors kept pressing, and the Fire jumped out to

Philip Zinckernagel hit the crossbar on a rogue attempt from the left side of the box in the 25th minute that Lucas Hoyos may have gotten a touch on. Chicago did eventually find an equalizer in the 30th minute. The ball fell outside the box after a corner kick, and a crisp strike on the half volley from Anton Salétros snuck through defenders and past Hoyos.

Paulo Díaz had to make a sliding stop to prevent a possible second for Chicago in the 32nd minute, putting his body on the line to block a shot inside the box.

Breel Embolo had a great look saved by Brady in the 35th minute, as Mauricio Amaro did some lovely work to get the ball into a dangerous area. His cross was driven low, and the Swiss forward struck the ball cleanly but right at the Chicago keeper. The U.S. international picked up an injury making the save, though he carried on.

The 5-Stripes finished out the half with vigor, and Embolo scored a goal in what would eventually be ruled an offside run by Jacob before playing the cross to his forward. Things were starting to heat up just as the referee blew the whistle for halftime.

Chicago missed an open net on the first real chance of the second half, as Maren Haile-Selassie skied a chance with no one in goal. A minute later, the 5-Stripes gifted them a second goal. Substitute Anzor Mekvabishvili turned in a simple finish after winning a tackle and intercepting a routine pass at the back from Hoyos, leaving the 5-Stripes with a frustrating 2-1 deficit.

Atlanta United surrendered an indirect free kick in the 57th minute when Hoyos picked up a back pass from Elías Báez. It left Chicago with a rare free kick inside of the 6-yard box, which after a flurry of whistle restarts for players jumping too early, they dispatched for 3-1. Zinckernagel was the man to roof the ball into the net.

The 5-Stripes got one back 10 minutes later in the 67th when Breel Embolo thumped a header past Brady. Báez put in a whipped cross to the forward, whose header was pure to bring Atlanta United back into the match.

Atlanta’s striker broke away in the 70th minute and missed a golden opportunity to level the scoring. Embolo ran onto a deep clearance and got one-on-one with the keeper. but couldn’t wrap his foot around the ball. He missed the frame of the goal wide right.

So it was the hosts pressing for an equalizer down the stretch, playing a daring high line and going for points they desperately needed. They got five minutes of stoppage time to pull it off, but Chicago’s low-block defending was enough to finish off the match, and the 5-Stripes lost 3-2.

Standouts

  • Miguel Almirón continued his bright post-World-Cup form with another goal contribution, an assist where he brought the ball from midfield and ushered it to Tomás Jacob for the first goal. It was Almirón’s 15th MLS match with multiple chances created since the break, tying him with Carles Gil for most such by any MLS player in that time.

Milestones

  • Miguel Almirón became Atlanta United’s outright leader in assists on the season with 8.
  • Mauricio Amaro picked up his first two assists with the 5-Stripes with a secondary assist on both of the goals.

Up next

Atlanta United hits the road for a midweek match against New York City FC. They’ll need to pick up points to stay alive in the playoff race. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET Wednesday, October 28 at Citi Field in Queens.

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